Wilderness living and the "Ranger" image.

Y

YoYoMa

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Oct 30, 2002
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Browsing a Lord of the Rings forum, I came across this description of a re-enactor's "Ranger Kit" and these pictures:
The bow is a 65# rawhide backed hickory flat bow.
I'll always have the belt on with the pouch, which is basic fire starter kit, beeswax candle, primitive fishing kit, linen thread/needles, nippers, small rope/twine, stone for sharpening.
In pouch on Quiver is mainly food stuff, wood spoon, cup, copper boiler, tea, dried foods, jerky, spare wool socks. Always have a hardened leather canteen and an oilskin over tunic, hood & cowl with me, usually a wool cloak and oilskin cloak as well. Depending on how long I'm out, I'll have a bed roll/tump line with ground cloth, shelter tarp (usually oilskin cloak will do), gloves/mittens.
I always have my big axe and knife, a small camp knife, and usually 2 dozen arrows with bodkin tips, and a few broad heads.
It's all suprisingly light after all the modern gear I have to carry at times.
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Wilderness survival/living and the "Ranger" image has intrigued me for a while. We either think "modern" or "primitive" in regards to this kind of thing, but leave out thousands of years, i.e. medieval times, when this kind of stuff was everyday life.

Anyways, what do you guys think of this as a kit? What modifications would you recommend? I'm curious for the opinions out there.
 
Very interesting. I love the quiver. Contents are pretty thorough. I wouldn't add anything for myself if I was going out.

What's a copper boiler?
 
Originally posted by Quiet Bear
Very interesting. I love the quiver. Contents are pretty thorough. I wouldn't add anything for myself if I was going out.

What's a copper boiler?
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Good question. I don't know, maybe a small pot?

And does anyone know what "nippers" are? Pliers or something?
 
Other then you more then likely being able to cut every piece of leather in half... and still retain the function...

Looks sweet! How hard is it to shoot? :cool:
 
Um... just relized that its a qouted section... doh!

Posting signature for me to read...
 
Originally posted by Hotrod
Other then you more then likely being able to cut every piece of leather in half... and still retain the function...
Click to expand...

I'm curious what you mean by this ...?
 
I like that gear. what forum was that gear posted on ? do you have a link ? I would like to ask the poster some questions about his gear.

Thanks

Trekker
 
Great looking equipment. It never ceases to amaze my what some people will tote when out and about either stumping, camping, or hunting etc. I am a traditional bowhunter and have been since 70 when I could first bowhunt. I have carried either a recurve or a longbow.

My current set up for hunting at least this year will be a Wing Archery Vantage Pro 55lb recurve, 4 broadheads(snuffers) mounted on tapered ash shafts with a judo point arrow for recreational shooting. All carried in a catquiver with 3 pockets. In those 3 pockets I will have 2 flashlights for tracking at night, 2 extra bow strings set up to the bow, and a stout folding knife(S2K) and a new Bic lighter. I will wear my Swandri hunting coat and pants, which imho happens to be the BEST wool hunting clothing you can not find anymore. I will have a Pedleton or Woolrich wool hunting shirt on with merino wool underwear depending on how cold. On my belt I will either have my CS MH in Carbon V or a Puuko. Oh yea knee high rubber boots.

In the spring and late winter when it is getting more temperant I will carry a Howard Hill back quiver with 4 judo pointed arrows and a sandwhich stuffed into it. Sometimes I will carry a UC SEAL machete in ATS34 for hacking arrows out of stubborn stumps. The knife I carry in the quiver too. Will always have a new BIC lighter just in case I need to make a fire. I may substitute carrying that big ass knife for one of my khukri's. Anyways a great looking kit and definetly interested in the archery end of things there.

I have a great osage self bow I call Heavy Duty built by Wes Martin. Due to a hand injury thought this year and for the forseeable future Ihave had to drop a good 15lbs in draw wt. and go back to a recurve for hand comfort. Keep'em sharp
 
What I was trying to say is fuction wise you could more then likely cut the belt in half, and still maintain a useful piece. Quiver the same... tighter fit but less weight.

:cool:
 
Originally posted by Hotrod
What I was trying to say is fuction wise you could more then likely cut the belt in half, and still maintain a useful piece. Quiver the same... tighter fit but less weight.

:cool:
Click to expand...

Gotcha. But I don't think that the quiver is full in the pictures. It might be, I dunno.
 
Perhaps this is similar to the copper boiler described:
http://www.jastown.com/cooking/cb-720.htm

Neat post, YoYo--thank you! This was pretty timely as my 11 year old daughter wants to try a "Hobbit" campout with this type of equipment. It's been fun seeing what we can use that's "technologically correct..." Thus far cast iron and wooden utensils, the tinder box, and wool for blankets and clothing seem appropriate... The GB Hunters axe has to go along--it's something Gimli would have been proud to own. Big challenge is something waterproof for the shelter and ground cloth. Oilskin, maybe?

Thanks again!

Rob
 
That boiler looks right on the money.

I found this whole thing incredibly interesting because of the different twist on minimalistic/primitive wilderness living/survival. As far as my knowledge goes, you've got all you need, including weaponry, in quite a small amount of gear that carries well on the body. It also looks cool! The "Ranger" persona is just a bonus to us LOTR fans.

That reminds me of a post on KnifeForum's OSF a while back on cloaks. Here's the link: http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthrea...mber=223583&page=&view=&sb=&o=&fpart=all&vc=1
 
YoYoMa,

Thanks! Excellent link on cloaks. I agree 100% with your observations. I started camping decades ago with little more than my sleeping bag, a tarp, empty coffee can and sierra cup (and various knives, of course) and had a simply awesome time. I have to admit that I was a bit chagrined when I looked at the pile of gear that we took to the Sangre de Christos last month. I am very glad that my daughter is interested in the challenge of a "minimalist"/traditonal approach. First thing we acquired for our adventure were "porridgers" (handled wooden bowls) from Ragweed's Forge. Very cool and "field" trials at home have proven them ideal for oatmeal, stew, and, yes...a wee bit of grog... They just feel..."right." We are both carving our own wooden spoons to go with them. For her "life skills" (read: home-ec) course at school, J is going to sew us some "browse bags" out of muslin to replace the sleeping pads... LOTR has always been a favorite, made even more so as it gives my daughter and I something else to share and talk about...

Thanks again!

Rob
 
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